Kashmir ‘test case’ for world HR bodies: Geelani

Srinagar: The chairman of his faction of Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani Tuesday said that Kashmir was ‘test case’ for human rights bodies including Amnesty International. The Hurriyat Conference (G) has also announced to organize a seminar—‘Resolution of Kashmir issue- Only guarantee for peace’ on December 12 in connection with the international human rights day being observed across the globe on December 10.

Besides Hurriyat (G) Chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani prominent human rights activists will also address the seminar scheduled to be held from 10 a.m to 2 p.m at the amalgams’s Hyderpora office, a spokesman said in a statement on Tuesday.

Asking Amnesty International , Human Rights Watch to play a positive role in stopping the human rights violations, ‘committed against the civilian population in Kashmir’, Geelani said the issue had become a “test case” for international HR bodies, and if they continue to ignore these ‘violations in Kashmir suppressed people and nations will lose their faith in such bodies.’

“While as the whole world would be celebrating the human rights day, it is important for us to remind the international community that Kashmir is the most militarized region in the world, that Indian forces have been subjecting Kashmiris to the worst kind of human rights violations  and Indian Army generals are responsible for war crimes in Kashmir. This year alone, 150 Kashmiris, most of them teenagers and youths, were killed by government forces without any of forces being prosecuted or punished,” Geelani said.

Referring to the Machil fake encounter expose, Geelani said there were numerous instances where Army officers and soldiers had killed innocent civilians for promotions and rewards.“ More than ten thousand people were disappeared while as 2700 unknown graves, most of them near forces’ camps in the frontier areas have been discovered so far. From the last 21 years, Kashmir continues to be a conflict zone where more than 60000 children have been orphaned, some 25000 to 30000 women widowed and while thousands of them have been subjected to mass rape by Indian armed forces,” he said.